Switch



June 13, 1950 J. w. LAwsoN ETAL 2,511,069

vSWITCH-1 Filed July 27, 1946 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6 INVENToRs `lune 13, 1950 J. w. LA wsoN ErAL 2,511,069

SWITCH Filed July 27, 194e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. J//N W. HWJON /Q/VD W/l IHM E- @POWN Patented June 13, 1950 SWITCH John W. Lawson and William E. Brown, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application July 27, 1946, serial No. 686,608

7 Claims.

This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to the operating mechanism for controlling the actuating means for the elec tric switches- The. general' object of the present. invention is to provide an improved control switch which is particularly adapted for use, upon tractors, airplanes. or automotive vehiclesv for controlling a plurality of circuits.

Another object of. the present invention is to provide a.. switch construction which has an intermediate position and side position on each side of` the` intermediate position which is adapted to bemanually moved' in one direction to one or more operating` positions and wherein. the switch is yieldingly retained insaid. position'Y until manuallyreleased and when the switch is moved in the opposite direction said switch must be manually heldin said positionandwhen released said switch will automatically return to the intermediate position1` vIn the disclosed embodiments of the invention these. objects are. accomplished by providing a two-way switch having an intermediate position and on position on each side. of the intermediate position attained by moving bridging means in either directionl from the intermediate position. Themovable bridging meansisyieldingly retained by detentmeans in the intermediate positionV and the.on positions on one side of the intermediate position bntthe bridging means. must. be manual 1y held in an. on position when the switch is moved in the opposite direction from the intermediate position against the energy stored in resilient means. Thus when the manual means is released the stored energy in the resilient means will causethe resilient means to expand and automatically return the bridging means to the in termediate position of the'switch. The bridging means is prevented from moving past the intermediate position by the force of the resilient means by stop means.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accom- .panying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown. In the drawings:

Fig. l. isv a plan View of the switch embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of. Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear View of the switch. i

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4.-*4 ci? Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional4 View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the relative position of certain switch` elements when the switch is actuated to one of its on positions.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a modified form of the present invention. l

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a rear view of the switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the switch with the closure and movable contact assembly removed.

Fig. 11 is a sectional. View taken on line. Il of Fig. 8 and showing certain switch elements in one of. its on positions.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing4 the certain switch element when the switch is aotuated to another of its on positions.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, 2D designates a cup-shaped housing or casing having a bottom wall 2! provided with an opening 22 through which a bushing or bearing 23 extends, said bushing having a collar 23a engaging the inner face o! the wall 2|. The bushing 23 is held in a fixed relation with the bottom wall 2l by upsetting the bushing 23 at several places, las at 24, over the outer face of the wall 2l, see Fig. 2. This bushing 23 is also provided with aY reduced. portion 25 to form a shoulder 26. The. reduced portion has a, close sliding iit in an opening of an instrument panel 21. A nut 28 having threaded engagement with the reduced portion clamps a washer 29 be tween the nut and panel and draws the shoulder 26 rmly against the panell to hold the bushing in position.

A stop member or pin 30 is secured intermediate its ends to the bottom wall 2 l, said pin having one end thereof forming a stop 3 Iv Within the housing and having the other end 32 extending beyond the bottom wall which is received by an opening in the panel. In this manner the housing is located correctly and prevented from turning with respect to the panel when the nut 28 is threaded home.

The bushing 2 3. rotatably supports a shaft 35 having one end provided with tapered flats iitting into corresponding ats provided in a recess formed in a handle 31. The handle is secured to the shaft by a screw 38. The flat surfaces in the recess of the handle and those of the shaft cooperating to prevent the handle from turning relative to the shaft. The other end of the shaft 35a is ,iournalled in an opening. 40 provided by a movable contact carrier 4.! iioatingly supported 3 within the housing 20. The shaft 35 carries a lateral flange 42 one portion of which is provided With a driving projection 43 having a recess orv pocket 44. In order that the shaft may be rofated into four positions and yieldingly maintained therein, indexing means in the form of a spring-pressed ball 45 housed in the pocket 44 is provided. The ball 45 is adapted toseat in depressions 45 formed in the inner face of the bottom wall 2 I. The ball 45 is normally pressed out- Zvardly of the pocket 43 by a compression spring TheV shaft 35 slidably supports and drives the movable contact carrier 4I. In this instance the carrier is axially slidable on an end 35a of the shaft and is driven by the projection 43 which extends into a recess 58 formed in the carrier 4l.

The carrier 4l supports a plurality of contact plates 52, 53 and 54 ,of triangular formation. YSince each of the plates is constructed and mounted on the carrier in a like manner, plate 52 will only ber described. This plate 52 is provided with bosses arranged in a triangular formation and each boss extends over a recess 5i each of which houses a compression spring 55 all of which cooperate to urge the contact plate 52 from Athe carrier to be described. At points intermediate the bosses of the plate 52 is a tongue or projection punched therefrom. These tongues are bent out of the plane of the plate and extend into suitable notches provided by the carrier 4l. The arrangement and dimensions of the tongues and notches areY so proportioned and arranged that the Contact plate 52 will have a relatively loose engagement with the carrier 4l and capable yof axial movement relative to the carrier. The compression springs 55 interposedY between the contact plate 52 and the bottom of the recesses i5l have a dual purpose, namely, to urge the carrier toward the flange 42 of the shaft and also vurge the contact` plate 52 toward a closure Bil for the housing.

The carrier 4! is provided with arcuate eXtensions or suitable anges `(il disposed about the axis adapted to engage the flange 42 of the carrierto limit the axial movement of the carrier to the right as viewed in Fig. 2. The closure 60 of non-conducting material is provided with a lug 60a extending into a notch 62- in a peripheral flange B3 of the housing 2B. The notch 52 cooperates with the lug lillav to locate definitely the correct position of the Closure with respect vto the housing. The closurevis rigidly secured to the housing in a well known manner as by tangs which are bent over the exterior of the closure 64 to clamp the closure against a ledge or shoulder 64 provided by the housing. Y A The closure 64 supports a plurality of stationary contacts 55, 56, 51, 58 65A and 111 arranged in an inner circular row. The clQSwe BD also supports. stationary contacts 1l, 12, V14a-nd 15 arranged in an outer circular row. .The contacts v[55V through 1B are connected together by a strap 16 which is adapted to be connected with a ster-.-

age battery by a suitable lead, not shown. The contacts 14 and 15 are connected together by a strap 11 adapted to be connected witha suitable pin 3|.

Fig. 1, the switch will be in its normal o or intermediate position. However, when the switch is moved in a counterclockwise direction to its first on position so that handle is opposite legends Inst., Head and Tail the movable contact 52 will bridge stationary contacts 12, 65 and contact 53 will bridge 13, B8 and 14. When the handle is moved further in a counterclockwise direction to its second on position designated by legends Head and Tail the contacts 52 and 53 will bridge contacts as follows: 52 (B1- 12) 53 (E9-J4) When the switch is moved still further in the counterclockwise direction to the third on position, designated by Headj on the contact 53 will engage stationary contacts, namely 1D and 15 to close a circuit. The handle is prevented from being moved further in a counterclockwise direction by an abutment provided by the fiange 42 which engages the stop 3|. It is to be understood that when the switch is in either its oi position or any of the three on positions the switch will be yieldingly held in such position by the detent mechanism including any one of the four depressions 45 each capable of receiving the'spring pressed ball 45 located in the pocket or recess 44.

The novel feature of the invention resides in the use, in connection with the switch thus far described and illustrated, means for automatically returning the handle to its normal oif position upon release of the handle 31 by the operator from a fourth on position. This fourth on position is designated by the legend Battery ignition, see Fig. 1. In Figs. 5 and 6 the automatic return means for the handle or lever 31 is shown. In this instance the return means comprises a lever return Plate 8'5 pivotally supported on the collar 23a. Ihe plate 85 is provided with an ear bent out of the normal plane of the plate. This ear has a slot 85a. The plate is also provided with an arm 81. A guide member 88 is pivotally supported on a rivet or pin 89. The guide 88 is of arcuate formation and is provided with a hook portion 9U at its free end. The free end of the guide member extends through the slot 85a with the hook 9D overlying a keeper surface 9i provided by the ear 86. A spring 92 surrounds the goude member and is interposed between a shoulder 93 provided by the guide member and the ear t5. The pivoted end of the guide is so dimensioned that it will engage the annular wall of the casing 2D to prevent the hook end of the guide member from coming out of the slot 86a.

As previously stated the handle or lever 31 can be manually moved in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, to various on positions and yieldingly held in said position by the spring pressed ball 45, but when the lever 35 is moved in a clockwise direction the handle must be manually held in the fourth on position otherwise the handle will automatically return to its normal oif position by the automatic return means. This movement is obvious from the showing in Fig. 6 which shows the spring compressed between the shoulder 93 and the ear 85.

The compression of the spring is accomplished by moving the lever 35 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 or insa counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. When lever 31 is so rotated one side of the driving projection 43 will engage the ear 85 to move the plate 85 about its pivot while the plate 85 is being rotated the ear 86 will compress the spring 92 between the ear 88 and the shoulder 93 until arm 81 engages the When the arm 81 engages the pin the movable contact 54 will fbe :in position to bridge stationary contacts and 15 to close a circuit. Upon release of `the lever 31 by the operator the spring 92 will expand to move the ear 86 and driving projection -43 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6`until the ball 45 seats itself'in the recess representing the normal on position of the switch. The plate 85 is prevented from moving beyond the Battery ignition position by the heel of the projection 8-1 of plate 85 which contacts the pin8`9, see Fig. '5.

In Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive a modined form of the invention is shown wherein the switch structure is adapted for use with 'airplanes 'using two magnetos, namely, a right magneto and a left magneto. In this event a cup-sha-ped'housing |20 is provided having a bottom wall |-2| provided with an opening through which a bearing or Ibushing |122 extends. Since the bushing 22 is identical with bushing 22 in Fig. '2 further description of construction and assembly thereof with the bottom wall |2| is deemed unnecessary.

The bottom wall |21 is provided with an opening |25 which is adapted to accommodate a reduced portion of a bushing |30, said reduced portion being upset over the inner surface of the bottom wall |'2|. The bushing slidably supports a plunger |3| having a head |32 at one end and located within the housing |20. The other end of the plunger |31 carries a cup-shaped push button |33. The head |32 is normally held against the upset portion of the bushing by a compresn sion spring |34 having one end abutting the outer end of the bushing and having the other end engaging the bottom of the button |33.

The bushing |22 rotatably supports a drive shaft |35 having one end thereof attached to a handle or lever |31. 'The other end of the shaft |35 is journaled in an opening provided by a movable contact carrier |40 which is ilo'atingly supported on the shaft end |350.. The shaft |35 carries a lateral flange |42 having arms |43 and A|114 with the arm |43 having a projection |45 provided with a recess |46. The arm |45 is provided with a peripheral notch |41 to provide-abut ments |48 and |49.

The movable contact carrier |40 supports a plurality of Contact plates |52, |53 and 54" oi triangular formation. As these plates are similar in construction and arrangement as set forth for contacts 52, 53 and 54 further description as to their formation and mounting is deemed unnecessary, rEhe contact plates are urged against a closure |60 by compression springs |55 disposed between the contact plates and the bottom of recesses formed in the carrier |40. The closure of insulating material is provided with a lug |61 extending into a notch |62 formed in a peripheral flange |63 of the housing |20. The lug |6| and notch |62 cooperating to locate the closure in the correct position with respect to the housing `|20. The closure |66 is clamped against an insulating shoulder |64 provided by the housing 52D by tango on the periphery flange |63 which are bent over exterior of the closure.

The lclosure |56 supports a plurality of stationary contacts |65, |66, |61 and |63 arranged in an outer circular row and a plurality of stationary contacts |69, |10, |1|, |12, and |13 arranged in an inner circular row.y The contacts |65 and. |65 are connected by a strap |80 which is in turn adapted to be connected with Left magneto. The contact |61 is connected with a strap |85 adapted to be connected with a Right magneto and contact |68 is connected with a strap |82 6 adapted to be connected with a "Starter" .device. The inner row of contacts are connected as follows: contact '|63 is `connected with aistrap |82 which is adapted to be connected with a. storage battery while contacts |10, |1|., |12, "and |13 are connected together to a ground strap |85.

Referring to Fig. 7 the switch shows the switch in one of its on positions in which both magnetos are in use. When 'the lever '|31 is moved in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig.. 1 the lever will be directly over the legend Rig-ht mag. When in said positiononly the right mag'- neto will be in use while the left magneto will be grounded. On further movement of the lever |31 in a counterclockwise direction to the position 'indicated by Left mag. the left magneto will be in use and the right magneto will be grounded. When 'the handle is moved to the position off both the Right and Left magneto!! will be grounded'.

To prevent any further movement of the lever |31 in the counterclockwise direction the abutment |49 will engage the head |32 of a plunger rod 13|, said head being received by the notch it? between the abutments |48 and |49. When the'switch is in the position shown in Fig. 7 the lever is prevented from moving in a clockwise direction by the abutment |44. When it is -desired to move the handleV in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to connect a starter with the battery the plunger button |33 is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 8 against the tension of spring |34. When this happens the head |32 moved beyond the path of abutment |49, thus permitting the handle to move in a clockwise did rection. As the lever is moved in the clockwise direction the projection |46 will cooperatey with anazutomatic return means to return said handle to the position shown in Fig. 8.

The automatic return means is identical with that described in Figs. 5 and 6 but one hundred been added to the reference numbers. Thus; when the handle is moved in a clockwise direction from the posi-tion shown in Fig. 7 and the plunger is pushed inwardly the handle will drive the shaft |35 which in turn will drive the carrier 14o to move the contact |50 to bridge contacts iii, |68 to connect the starter with the battery. When the handle is operated one side of the driving projection |43 will engage the ear |86 to move the plate |85 about its pivot against the bias of the spring |52. While the plate |8513 being rotated the ear |65 will `compress the spring |92 between the ear |88 and the shoulder |98 until the `arm |01 engages the plunger rod |8|. When the arm |81- engages the plunger rod |34 the spring |92 will be compressed as shown in- Fig. 12. After the starter hasl started the engines the operator releases the handle |31 and the spring v| 92 will expand to return the handle automatically to the position shown in Fig. 7. When this happens the plunger head |32 will return. to its normal position. between the abutments |48 and |43, thus preventing accidental turning of the lever |31 ina clockwise direction. The plate |85 is prevented from moving beyond the intermedie atepositions by the projection of the plate whenit contacts the plunger |3|. Thus, it makes it necessary to operate manually the plungerk 13| before the handle |31 can move from the position where both magnetos are in use to the position waere the starter is connected with the battery;

While the embodiment of the present invena tion as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms' might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. A :What is claimed is as follows:

1. In an operating mechanism for effecting the movements of a switch means having at least three positions, one on each side of an intermediate position; a shaft for rotating the switch means in either direction from the intermediate position; a flange carried by the shaft having a pair of abutments; a biased plunger having a head and normally located in the space between the abutments so that head will prevent accidental angular movement of the shaft in one clirection from the intermediate position but permitting angular movement in the other direction until the other abutment engages the head, said plunger capable of being actuated to move the head out of the path of the abutments and thereby permit angular movements of the shaft in either direction from the intermediate position, said head riding on the flange upon release of the plunger; and spring controlled means for resisting the movement of the shaft in said mentioned one direction, said means including a plate rotatable about the same axis as said shaft and vhaving an ear provided with a slot, a member capable of swinging movement about a pivot and having one end received by the slot, said end having a hook overlying a marginal wall of the slot to limit angular movement of the plate in one direction; a compression spring for urging the ear against the hook portion; and a driving element provided by the switch means for engaging the ,ear to drive the plate relative to the guide member; and means for maintaining said one end of the guide member within the slot.

2. In an operating mechanism for effecting the movements of a switch means having at least three positions, one on each side of an intermediate position in combination; a housing for enclosing the switch means; means journalled in the housing for actuating the switch means from its intermediate position to one side of the side positions without restraint; and means for resisting movement of the actuating means when jthe switch means is moved from the intermediate position to the other side position, said means including a plate pivoted on the housing and coaxially with the actuating means and having an ear provided with a slot; means provided by the switch means for engaging the ear to rotate the plate in one direction; a guide member pivoted for swinging movement on the housing toward "and from the plate, the lower end of the guide member extending loosely in the slot of the ear and having a hook portion overlying a, marginal edge of the slot to limit the rotation of the plate in the opposite direction; a spring about the guide member confined between shoulders on the guide member and the ear to hold the latter normally against; the hook portion; and means including portions of the housing cooperating with the guide member for preventing the guide member from leaving the slot.

3. In an operating mechanism for effecting the movements of switch means having at least three positions, one on each side of an intermediate position in combination; a support; a shaft journalled in the support for actuating the switch from'the intermediate to one of the side positions without restraint; a stop provided by the support; a. flange attached to the shaft and having an abutment for engaging one side of the stop to limit angular movement of the shaft in one direction; and biased means for resisting movement of the shaft when rotated in the opposite direction from the intermediate position, said biased means lncluding a plate journalled coaxially about the shaft having an arm adapted to engage the other side of the stop to limit angular movement of the plate and having an ear provided with a slot; projecting means provided by the switch means adapted to engage the ear to rotate the plate when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction from the intermediate position; a guide member pivoted for swinging movement relative to the support the lower end of said guide member extending loosely in the slot of the ear and having a hook portion engaging a, marginal portion of the slot to limit the rotation of the plate toward the intermediate position of the shaft; resilient means ybearing against the ear to hold same normally against the hook; and means associated with the support and cooperating with the guide member for maintaining guide member within the confines of the slot.

4. An electric switch comprising, a housing; switch means located Within the housing; a manual operating member rotatably mounted in the housing for actuating the switch means in either direction; a stop provided by the housing, an abutment provided by the operating member for engaging the stop when the operating member is rotated in one direction a predetermined angular distance; a plate rotatably mounted on the housing independently of and coaxial with the operating member, said plate having an ear provided with a slot; a guide member pivotally mounted on the housing and having its free end extending into the slot, said end having a projection adapted to engage the ear to limit the rotation of the plate in one direction; resilient means for urging the ear against the projection means associated with the switch means for moving said ear to a position at which it is out of engagement with the projection thereby permitting said resilient means to resist movement of the operating member and plate when they are rotated in the opposite direction, said resilient means rotating the plate and the operating member in the said mentioned one direction upon manual release of said member until the ear engages the projection; and means including a portion of the housing cooperating with the guide member to hold guide member within the slot so that the projection will be in the path of movement of the ear.

5. In an operating mechanism for effecting the movements of a switch means having an on position on each side of an off position in combination; a housing for enclosing the switch means; a manual operating member journalled in the housing for driving the switch means in either direction of rotation; a plate rotatably supported on the housing and coaxial with the operating member and having an ear provided with a slot; an arcuate guide member pivotally supported on the housing from the axis of the plate and having its free end projecting through the slot, said pivot for the guide member providing stop means to limit the movement of the plate at least in one direction; resilient means carried by the guide member and engaging the ear to urge a portion of the plate against the stop; means associated with the switch means adapted to engage the ear upon movement of the operating member from the cir position in one direction only to move the plate so that the portion will leave the stop in opposition to the spring means, said spring meansreturning the plate,

switch means and the operating member to the off position upon manual release of the operating member; and means including a portion of the housing cooperating with the guide member to hold the free end of guide member within the slot of the ear.

6. An electric switch comprising in combination; a housing; a pair of stops provided by the housing; a rotatable carrier within the housing having a. normal position on an "on position on each side of the normal position; contact elements supported on the carrier and adapted to bridge stationary contacts supported by the housing; an actuator journalled on the housing for driving the carrier in either direction of rotation; an abutment provided by the actuator adapted to engage one of the stops to limit rotary movement of the actuator in one direction from its normal position; yieldable means for holding the carrier at an on position on one side of the normal position; a plate pivoted within the housing independent of and coaxial with the actuator and having an arm disposed between the stops to limit the rotary movement of the plate in either direction and having an ear spaced angularly from the arm; resilient means bearing against the ear to urge the plate in one direction of rotation to hold the arm against one of the stops and resisting the movement of the plate' in the opposite direction means carried by the carrier for engaging the ear only when the carrier is moved in the opposite direction from the normal position to drive the plate against the force of the resilient means until the arm engages the other stop; whereby certain contact elements bridge certain stationary contacts, said resilient means returning the plate, carrier, and actuator to their normal positions upon release of the actuator.

7. In an operating mechanism for eiecting movements of switch means having at least three positions, one on each side of an intermediate position the combination including, a support; a manual operating member journalled on the support for actuating the switch means from the intermediate position to one side without restraint and to the other side position with restraint; a pair of stops provided by the support; an abut ment carried by the operating member for engaging one of the stops to limit the angular movement of the operating member when moved in one direction of rotation; biased means for resisting movement of the operating member in the opposite direction of rotation, said means including a plate journalled on the support independently of the operating member, said plate having a radial arm disposed between the stops to limit the angular movement of the plate in both directions and having an ear spaced from the arm; resilient means bearing against the ear to urge the arm against one of the stops; means associated with the switch means adapted to engage the ear upon movement of the operatv ing member in the opposite direction of rotation from the intermediate position to move the arm vtoward the other stop in opposition of the re- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

f UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,299,163 Fleming Apr. 1, 1919 1,324,819 Hickling Dec. 16, 1919 2,242,167 Bentley et a1 May 13, 1941 2,427,277 Hasselbaum Sept. 9, 1947 

